Automatic toilet seat lid raising and lowering device

ABSTRACT

A toilet seat lid raising and lowering device relies on a motion sensor to trigger its operation. A housing containing the sensor, a motor and a spool is removably attached to a toilet tank. Upon detecting a user approaching the toilet area, the sensor sends an activation signal to the motor causing the motor to rotate the spool. A line is attached to the spool at one end and to the seat lid at a second end such that the rotation of the spool causes the line to raise the seat lid to an open position slightly angled from the tank. Once a user exits the toilet area, the motor returns to a neutral position allowing the spool to rotate in an opposite direction thereby lowering the seat lid by means of gravity. Resistance between the motor and spool prevent the seat lid from “crashing” to a closed position.

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] This invention is in the general field of conventional toilets.More particularly, means for raising and lowering a toilet seat lidautomatically and without user participation is described herein. Thepresent invention raises and lowers a toilet seat lid automatically inresponse to a user's location and movements by means of a motion sensor.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

[0002] Patents related to automatic toilet seats are plentiful and wellknown. Unfortunately, while plentiful, the patented items are either notmarketable or so complicated that they are not practical in the realworld. By way of example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,276,472, 2,136,684,3,055,016, 4,807,307, 5,488,743, 5,594,958, 5,829,068 and 5,852,833 areeach directed to devices for lifting a toilet seat and/or lid by meansof foot pedals. In all instances, a userdepresses one or more footpedals causing said toilet seat and/or lid to be raised. Each of theaforementioned patented inventions require a toilet user to participateby depressing the foot pedals. Moreover, assembly of the foot pedaldevices is difficult and the ultimate product is unsightly.

[0003] More noteworthy than the foot pedal designs is U.S. Pat. No.6,038,708 (the '708 Patent) entitled “Automatic Toilet Seat WithProtective Covering.” The '708 Patent describes a geared mechanism forlifting a toilet seat. The '708 further describes three sensors foroperating the invention but only a flush sensor is specifically used tosense the presence of an individual and react thereto. In practice, themechanism is located within a toilet tank and requires significantinstallation in connection with an existing toilet or completeintegration during a toilet manufacturing process.

[0004] Based on the shortcomings of the aforementioned toilet seat andtoilet lid lifting patents, there continues to be a need for a simpletoilet seat lid raising and lowering device requiring no userparticipation and having an unobtrusive appearance. Handicappedindividuals and children will especially benefit from the automaticnature of the present invention. The present invention may be installedin minutes and is small enough to remain substantially hidden from view.Further, the present invention operates in a completely automaticfashion such that a user has no responsibility beyond installation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a device forautomatically raising and lowering a toilet seat lid that is simple toinstall.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide aunobtrusive device for automatically raising and lowering a toilet seatlid.

[0007] A further object of the present invention is to provide a costeffective device for automatically raising and lowering a toilet seatlid.

[0008] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide thehandicapped and children with an automatic service which is ordinarilycomplicated given the specific individual.

[0009] According to the present invention, a line or the like isattached at one end to a spool and the other end to a horizontal toiletseat lid. A motor driving the spool causes said line to withdraw therebyraising said seat lid. A motion sensor in a housing of said motorinitiates the automatic raising of the toilet seat lid.

[0010] To remain unobtrusive, the housing is removably attached to anend of a toilet tank. In this location, the sensor is also able todiscern the presence of user movement and initiate the raising andlowering processes automatically. Upon sensing user movement, saidmotion sensor sends a signal to said motor, thus activating said motor,causing the spool to rotate drawing the line within the housing therebyphysically raising the toilet seat lid.

[0011] The motion sensor resides within said housing and faces a frontarea of the toilet through an opening in said housing. The motion sensorcan use any type of medium to detect motion, including microwave energy,ultrasonic waves, infrared energy or radio frequency signals toaccomplish its sensing objectives. However, it is desirable that thesensor be set at an optimum distance to prevent unwanted raising of thetoilet seat lid. In most instances, the sensor will be set to detectmovement from less than 10 feet depending on the size of a bathroomfacility.

[0012] Preferably, the motor and sensor are powered by conventional orrechargeable batteries. Alternatively, a power cord may be used toconnect the present invention to an electrical outlet located in thebathroom facility. Installation of the present invention is limited toattaching the housing to the toilet tank and attaching one end of theline to the toilet seat lid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013]FIG. 1 is a top view of the present invention installed on atoilet;

[0014]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention installed ona toilet;

[0015]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the present invention removed froma toilet;

[0016]FIG. 4 is a block diagram of internal components of the presentinvention; and

[0017]FIG. 5 is a side view of the present invention with a seat lid ina final open position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0018] Reference is now made to the figures wherein like parts arereferred to by like numerals throughout. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, atoilet 1 includes a tank 10, tank lid 15, seat 20, seat lid 25 and abowl 30. The toilet tank 10 supports a housing 35 having line 40extending therefrom through first opening 42 to attach with the toiletseat lid 25. Although the line 40 can be any rope, cable, string, chainor the like, it is preferably a pliable material conducive to beingwrapped, without tangling, about a spool. The attachment of the line 40to the toilet seat lid 25 is facilitated by means of an attachmentmember 45 connected to a first end of said line 40. In a preferredembodiment, the attachment member 45 includes a Velcro® portion thatremovably attaches to a corresponding Velcro® member 50 located on theseat lid 25. Preferably attachment member 50 is held in place on theseat lid 25 by an adhesive. The final location of the Velcro® member 50is ultimately determined by a toilet user and/or operator to maximizethe effectiveness of the present invention. Individual seat lid modelsmay have different sizes and weight configurations requiring, for properoperation, different locations for the seat lid attachment member 50.For example, the attachment member 50 may be placed anywhere along a topsurface or bottom surface of the toilet seat lid 25. Alternatively, theline 40 may be permanently attached to the seat lid 25 at a pre-selectedoptimum position.

[0019] Housing 35 includes a second opening 43 providing a line of sightfor a motion sensor 55. The motion sensor 55 faces a front area of thetoilet such that user movement is detected by said sensor 55. Althoughthe sensor 55 may rely on any means, including microwave energy,ultrasonic waves or radio frequency signals, to detect a userapproaching said toilet 1, infrared means are preferred. Infraredtechnology allows the size of the motion sensor 55 to be minimized.Moreover, infrared means are accurate and may be narrowly focused toavoid detecting extraneous movements. Preferably, the sensor 55 isadjustable so that a user and/or operator may adjust the aim of thesensor 55 to insure a proper coverage area. In other words, with toolarge a coverage area the present invention will be unnecessarilyactivated and with too small a coverage area the present invention willnot activate when required. In an alternative embodiment, given thestandard nature of toilets and bathroom facilities, the sensor 55 may bepreadjusted during a manufacturing process.

[0020] Now referring to FIG. 3, to facilitate the removable attachmentof the housing 35 to the toilet tank 10, two hooks 60 extend from a topsurface of said housing 35. Attachment of the housing is accomplished byremoving the toilet tank lid 15 and placing the hooks 60 over a topperimeter of the tank 10 such that the housing 35 hangs adjacent anoutside surface of said tank 10. Preferably, the housing 35 is locatednear a front of the toilet 1 thereby assuring the coverage area of thesensor 55 includes areas directly in front of the toilet 1 and on anopposite side of the toilet 1 from the attached housing 35.

[0021]FIG. 4 illustrates, in a block diagram, the internal components ofthe housing 35. The housing 35 contains the sensor 55, a motor 65, aspool 70 and a power means 75. The sensor 55 communicates with saidmotor 65 that is coupled to, and drives, said spool 70. Therefore, whensensor 55 detects a user approaching said toilet 1, it sends anactivation signal to motor 65, more particularly a microprocessor 66 incommunication with the motor 65, causing said motor 65 to rotate saidspool 70 thereby retrieving the line 40 compelling said seat lid 25 toraise. The microprocessor 66 does not need to be highly sophisticated asit functions primarily as a conduit between the spool 70 and the motor65. The power means 75 powers the sensor 55, microprocessor 66 and themotor 65. A clip 80 removably attached to said line 40 provides theimpetus for the motor 65 to stop rotating the spool 70 but continuing tohold the spool 70 and seat lid 25 in place. The clip 80 restricts theline 40 from entering the opening 42 once the seat lid 25 is in thefinal open position. Although the clip 80 is described, any attachmenton the line 40 may be used to perform the same function. The clip 80 isto be positioned along line 40 to stop the motor 65 while the seat lid25 still defines a small angle (shown as angle A in FIG. 5) with a frontface of said tank 10. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the angle must be largeenough that, when unencumbered, gravity will return the seat lid 25 to aclosed position. Upon detecting the user leaving the toilet 1 area, thesensor 55 sends a signal to the microprocessor 66 in communication withthe motor 65 causing said motor 65 to return a neutral position thusreleasing the spool 70 causing gravity to lower said seat lid 25 to theclosed position. The connection of the motor 65 and spool 70 involvessufficient resistance to prevent the toilet seat lid 25 fromfree-falling to the closed position but not enough to prevent the seatlid 25 from returning to the closed position.

[0022] If the present invention is prefabricated according to a specifictoilet and toilet seat lid, the microprocessor 66 may be programed tocease the motor 65 at precisely the correct time so that the toilet seatlid 25 forms the proper angle with the toilet tank 10. In this manner,the use of clip 80 can be eliminated.

[0023] Preferably, power means 75 comprise off-the-shelf Alkalinebatteries. Rechargeable batteries may also be used. In eitherembodiment, a light emitting diode (LED) in communication with saidbatteries illuminates to indicate that said batteries are low on powerand need to be changed or recharged. Light from the LED shines through athird opening 85 in said housing 35. Alternatively, a power cord (notshown) plugged into a standard electrical outlet in a bathroom facilitypowers the present invention.

[0024] An on-off switch 90 allows the present invention to be turned offto facilitate adjusting the location of attachment member 50, adjustingthe location of said clip 80 along said line 40 and adjusting saidsensor 55. When turned off, the resistance between the motor 65 andspool 70 is eliminated allowing the line 40 to be pulled to any lengthfrom within the housing 35. Thereafter, a combination of common senseand trial and error dictate the final location of the attachment member50 and the clip 80 to guarantee the seat lid 25 raises and lowersproperly. Once the attachment member 50 and clip 80 are optimallylocated, the user need only change the batteries intermittently asrequired. A removable top of said housing 35 provides means for thesensor 55 to be adjusted if necessary.

[0025] Although the invention has been described in detail withreference to a preferred embodiment, additional variations andmodifications exist within the scope and spirit of the invention asdescribed and defined in the following claims.

I claim:
 1. An automatic toilet seat lid lifting device removablyattached to a toilet comprising: a housing containing a motor coupled toa spool, said spool rotated by said motor; a power means for drivingsaid motor; and a line having a first end attached to said spool, saidline extending from said spool through a first opening in said housingto a second end attached to a toilet seat lid whereby the rotation ofsaid spool collects said line thereby raising said toilet seat lid. 2.The automatic toilet seat lid lifting device of claim 1 wherein saiddevice is removably attached to a toilet tank.
 3. The automatic toiletseat lid lifting device of claim 1 further including means for saidmotor to cease rotating said spool once said toilet seat lid forms aminimum angle with a front face of a toilet tank, said motor maintainingthe spool in place once the minimum angle is formed, said minimum anglebeing large enough to allow said toilet seat lid to lower to an originalclosed position by means of gravity should said spool be released bysaid motor.
 4. The automatic toilet seat lid lifting device of claim 3wherein said means for said motor to cease rotating said spool is anadjustable clip secured to said line preventing further line from beingdrawn into said first opening of said housing.
 5. The automatic toiletseat lid lifting device of claim 1 further including a motion sensorcommunicating with a microprocessor that controls said motor.
 6. Theautomatic toilet seat lid lifting device of claim 4 wherein said motionsensor sends a signal to said microprocessor upon detecting a toiletuser approaching said toilet, said microprocessor instructing said motorto rotate said spool thereby lifting said toilet seat lid.
 7. Theautomatic toilet seat lid lifting device of claim 4 wherein said motionsensor sends a signal to said microprocessor upon detecting a toiletuser has moved away from said toilet, said microprocessor instructingsaid motor to release said spool thereby allowing said toilet seat lidto lower to an original closed position.
 8. The automatic toilet seatlid lifting device of claim 7 wherein the coupling of the motor and thespool incorporates a sufficient amount of resistance to cause the toiletseat lid to lower gradually to the original closed position.
 9. Theautomatic toilet seat lid lifting device of claim 1 wherein the powermeans is batteries.
 10. The automatic toilet seat lid lifting device ofclaim 9 wherein a light emitting diode in communication with saidbatteries illuminates indicating that said batteries are low on power.11. A method of lifting a toilet seat lid comprising: providing power toa motor; rotating a spool by means of said motor coupled thereto, saidspool and motor contained within a housing removably attached to atoilet tank; and said spool collecting a line attached at a first end tosaid spool and at a second end to said toilet seat lid.
 12. The methodof claim 11 wherein said power is provided by batteries.
 13. The methodof claim 11 wherein said motor ceases rotating said spool once saidtoilet seat lid forms a minimum angle with a front face of a toilettank, said motor maintaining the spool in place once the minimum angleis formed, said minimum angle being large enough to allow said toiletseat lid to lower to an original closed position by means of gravityshould said spool be released by said motor.
 14. The method of claim 11further including a means for detecting motion near a toilet.
 15. Themethod of claim 14 wherein said means for detecting motion near a toiletis a motion sensor.
 16. The method of claim 15 wherein said means fordetecting motion sends a signal to a microprocessor in communicationwith said motor upon detecting a toilet user approaching said toilet,said microprocessor instructing said motor to rotate said spool therebylifting said toilet seat lid.
 17. The method of claim 15 wherein saidmeans for detecting motion sends a signal to a microprocessor incommunication with said motor upon detecting a toilet user has movedaway from said toilet, said microprocessor instructing said motor torelease said spool thereby allowing said toilet seat lid to lower to anoriginal closed position by means of gravity.
 18. The method of claim 17wherein the coupling of the motor and the spool incorporates asufficient amount of resistance to cause the toilet seat lid to lowergradually to the original closed position.
 19. The method of claim 12wherein an light emitting diode in communication with said batteriesilluminates indicating that said batteries are low on power.